"You are either very simple, or extremely the reverse, and I see that I must deal with you more confidentially," says he. "This is a political case--ah, [pg 48] yes, Mr. Balfour! whether we like it or no, the case is political--and I tremble when I think what issues may depend from it. To a political case, I need scarce tell a young man of your education, we approach with very different thoughts from one which is criminal only. Salus populi suprema lex is a maxim susceptible of great abuse, but it has that force which we find elsewhere only in the laws of nature: I mean it has the force of necessity. I will open this out to you, if you will allow me, at more length. You would have me believe--"
"Under your pardon, my lord, I would have you to believe nothing but that which I can prove," s
